Folding chair



May l, 1951 w. R. GoLDFlNE 2,550,993

FOLDING CHAIR Filed sept. 21, 194e 2 sheets-sheet 1 May 1, 1951 W- R. GoLDl-'INE FOLDING CHAIR 2 Shees-Sheml 2 Filed Sept. 2l, 1946 @www .Y

Patented May 1, 1951 Wesley R. Goldfne, Chicago, Ill. Application September 21, 1946, Serial No. 698,454

11 Claims. (Cl. 155-139) Thisv inventionrelates to folding chairs and 4more particularly to that `type of folding chair 1'in which base and seat are arranged tov collapse simultaneously. The. primary object of the invention -is to provde a simple vwell-constructed folding chair the supporting base and seat of which are Aadapted to-readily collapse simultaneously, rendering the .folded article substantially iiat and compact.

A further object of the invention is to provide a folding kchair having a minimum of parts and being simple to operate.y

.A further object of the invention is to provide a folding chair wherein the mechanical linkages whereby the chair is rendered collapsible will be hidden.

. AStill further objects of the invention are to provide a folding chair of extreme sturdiness; to providea chair which can be economically manufactured on a large-scale production basis; to provide a novel mechanism for causing seat and base to swing simultaneously; to provide a novel 4locking device.

For the purpose of facilitating an understanding of this. invention, there is illustrated in the accompanying drawings a preferred embodiment thereof,.fr.orn an inspection of which, when con- 'sideredin connection with the following description, this invention, its mode of construction.

assembly and operation, .and many of its advantages should be. readily understood and appreciated.'

Referring to the drawings in which the same characters of vreference are employed to indicate .corresponding or similar parts throughout the vseveral figures of the drawings:

Fig. 1 Aisa front elevational view of a folding chair constructed in accordance with the invention.

Fig; 2 is a side elevational view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to that of Fig. 2 except `that the chair is shown in a folded condition.

Fig. 1v is a top plan view of the folding chair in Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 5 5 of Fig. 1 andlooking downwardly. i

Fig. 6 is a sectional View taken along the line ,6 5 of Fig. 1 and looking downwardlyvto show certain constructional details.

Fig. 7 is a sectional View takenv along the line 'l-'I of Fig. 5 and vin. the direction indicated by the arrows. y

Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view taken through the left leg of the chair, with portions thereof broken away and other portions shown in section;

Fig. 9 is a detailed sectional view taken through the seat pivot point as shown at 9-9 in Fig. 8 and in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Fig. 10 is a View similar to Fig. 9 but taken through the base pivot point as indicated by Fig. 11 is a fragmentary view of the seat attachment arrangement showing certain details in section.

The reference character I0 designates generally the folding chair base, while Il designates the seat, I2 and I3 the legs, right and left respeotively, and I4 the backrest. These elements, to all outward appearances, form the sum total of the parts forming the chair whereby the chair is extremely simple in construction and use. However, internally of these parts there are mechanisms whereby the folding movement of either base I0 or seat l I will'simultaneously cause folding movement of the other element, and, when in an opened condition the chair may be rendered safe and non-collapsible.

Each of the legs I2 and I3 is formed as a column, for strength, comprising front, rear, and side walls I5, I6, Il, and I8 respectively. These may be formed from a single sheet metal member bent and welded into proper shape. A butt weld along the rear Wall I6 is shown at I9 in Fig.` 6. The open ended columns constituting legs I2 and I3 are closed at opposite ends thereof by means of ornamental caps 20 at the. top, and by padded feet 2I at the bottom. The feet 2l consist of metal dish-like members 22 adapted to snugly lit into the lower end of the legs I2 and I3 each having a rubber pad 23 supported on a plate 24 attached thereto by the rivet 25 molded into the pad 23 during formation thereof. The front portion 26 of the member 22 is foreshortened for clearance of the chairs folding mechanism. l

The legs I2 and I3 are each provided on its front wall I5 with upper and lower generally triangular shaped housings 21 and 28 respectively which overlie theA slotted openings 29 and 30 formed in said wall I5. These housings 2l and 28 are attached to the legs I2 and i3 by welding as indicated at 3l. The purpose of the housings 2l and 28 will presently be explained.

At the upper end of each of the legs I2 and I3 there is provided a conical depression 32 formed on the Wall I'I which serves as a bearing surface for protruding conical portion 33 formed on the backrest Ill; The backrest is of a generally curved configuration, and is formed from a metal member Sil having a dished portion providing a slight depression 35 on the forward face thereof with a surrounding rim portion 38. The member 34 is provided with upper and lower conformingly shaped flanges 31 and 38, respectively, as well as end flanges i6 from which are formed the protruding conical bearing portions A pad, preferably of sponge rubber dl' and covered with fabric 42 is attached within the depression 35 to render'the backrest Il comfortable.

The backrest Ill is connected between the legs I2` and I 3 in rotatable engagement with 'the conical portions 32 and 33, being held in this position by arpintle or rivet 43 extending through appropriateopenings in walls Il and 8 and flange 159. A spacer 44 is provided between the inner surface of wall I8 and the base of depression 33. It should be obvious that the rotatable attachment just described is a tight one so that the backrest Illmay assume an adjusted position relative to the sitters back, but will not rotate freely.

Each of the housings 2l and 28 is provided internally thereof with a pair of bearing plates "35 which are substantially of the same general triangular configuration as the respective housing Within which said plates are disposed. Each plate has a central opening 4l Within which a spline shaft is adapted to rotate freely. There are four of such spline shafts, two associated with the housings 2'! as shown at [5S and two with the housings 28 as shown at 59. Each of the spline 'shaftst8 is provided with a lever arm 58 having a cooperating splined opening engaging said spline shaft 99 and adapted to rotate therewith. Said lever arm 55 is sandwiched between the bearing plates i5 and extends through the opening 29 into the interior of the leg I2 or I3 where it is pinned to the upper end of an elongated link member I by means of the pin 52. The link members 5I are bifurcated at the upper ends thereof, as shown at 53 to provide clearance for movement of the lever arm 5%, said arm being straddled by said bifurcated end 53.

Ina similar manner, the spline shafts 49- are each provided with a lever arm 511v sandwiched between bearing plates 45, having a portion extending through the opening 3D and into the 'center of the column comprising legs I2 and I3 where said arms 54 are pinned to the lower ends of the link members 5I by pins 55. The lower ends oflink arms 5l are bifurcated as shown at 56 for purposes of clearance.

F'roml the above description it should be readily apparent that rotation of a spline shaft, such as for example It will cause similar rotation of the `shaft 48 linked thereto by means of the lever arms 5i! and 5d andthe link member 5I.

At the bottom of the folding chair there has been provided a base Ill which is formed of sheet metal having a substantially U-shaped cross section, the open end of the section facing downwardly. The base Ill is formed as a rigid frame membervh'aving front, rear, and side portions 5?, 58, 59 and 9 respectively. vThe jointure of side portions 59 and 69 withu the front portion 5'. is

yfabric 84.

rounded as shown in Fig. 5, but, the rear jointures are squared as shown at 6I and 92. Each of the squared corner portions 6I and 52 are provided on their undersides, with support members 64 extending forwardiy and held between the arms of the U-shaped section to the side portions 59 and 99 and riveted in place as shown at 65. As an additional fastening means, a screw i5 extends through the rear wall of portion 59 into each member Gil.

Said members fell are substantially wedgeshaped cantilever support members, formed as a pair, right and left. Only the left of these members 65 is shown therein, but the right is identical therewith but opposite in formation. The member 'u issplined to the shaft i9 as shown at G3 and the shaft 49 rotates therewith. A counterbored portion 65 permits the placement of a Washer El andthe head '58 of a rivet 59 by means of which the spline `shaft fl9'is heldin position attached Within housing 28 and the slide portion Si) of thebase l0. Note that the inner wall of the housing 25 is provided with an opening "ltopermit passage of said spline shaft 9, and by reason of the conformal shape of the bearing plates 45, the spline shaft G9- remains centered therein. The side portion 60 is also provided: with a clearance opening 1I as is the side portion 59 (not shown). Note that the outer Wall of the housing 28 has an opening only of such size to permit the rivet body 69 to extend therethrough so that the head' i2 serves to retain the entire spline assembly and the right hand end of the shaft 9 as viewed in Fig. 10 abuts against the inner face of the right hand Wall of housing 2S.

The front portion 5l of the base I is provided with a pair of feet comprising rubber pads 13 moulded onto rivetsl 'ad carried on the plates l5 and having an elongated extension portion 'l vfor centering same within the bottom of said portion El and between the two sidel walls there.- of. rIhe rivets 'I4 extend through appropriate openings in the member 5l' and are peened over as shown to hold said feet in place.

The chair seat IIv is formed of sheet metal and -is shaped as shown in Fig. 4' with rounded corners at the front thereof as shown at 'VI andl 18 and squared corners I9 and 80 adjacent the legs II and I2. The front end of the seat II` is curved as shown at 8l in order to promote comfort. The chair seat is preferably stamped from a metal sheet member and provided with a downwardly dishedl portion 82 Within which there is aflixed a soft pad, such as sponge rubber 83 covered with The resulting rim comprises front, rear, and side portions 85, 86, B1, and 88, respectively. By reason of a downwardly depending lflange 99 about the seat Il, there is formed between said flange 9B and the dished portion 82 substantially the same inverted U-shaped cross section described in connection with the base I0.

The chair seat Il is attached to the spline shafts 48 in the same manner as the base I is attached to spline shafts 49. Thus, the side portions Sl and 88 are provided at the corners 'I9 and 8D with cantilever support members 8S held between the flange 99 and dished portion'82 on the underside of the seat II by rivets 9i and screws 92. The flange 90 is provided with clearance openings 93 corresponding to openings 7l. The housing 2'! also has' clearance openings 94 corresponding to clearance openings 10." There are provided rivets 95 and washers 96 correspending to rivets 69 and washers 6l' used in attachment of the base. The identical manner of -chanical linkages described.

assembly l'and attachment are used for the seat 'Ill as for the base Ill. The counterbored por- 'tion- 91, rivet heads 98, and 99 correspond to 'counterbored portion St, and rivet heads S3 and 1.2,respectively- `When the chair is in an opened condition and it is desired to collapse same, the seat Il is rotated upwardly and this causes the `base It to likewise rotate upwardly by reason of the me- In 'an open condition the amount of rotation of seat I I and base .I in a counter clockwisev direction is limited by the engagement of link members I with the innerfaces of walls l5 of legs I2 and I3. In order y to cause the chair to maintain this condition without danger of collapsing, there is provided within leg I3 a block member IBG which has a portion I @I adapted to engage between link member 5I and inner face of wall I6 of the leg I3. Thus, if movement of link arm 5I is prevented, the seat and base cannot be folded and the chair remains open. The block is manipulated by means of a knob 02 which is provided upon a pin |03 attached to said block E00 and riding in slot |64 positioned on the inner wall Il of leg I3.

Itis believed that this invention, its mode of construction and assembly, and many of its advantages should be readily understood from the foregoing without further description, and it should also be manifest that while a preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described for illustrative purposes, the structural details are nevertheless capable of wide variation within the purview of this invention as defined in vLetters Patent of the United States is:

y1. In a folding chair, a pair of hollow legs, a base, a seat, said base and seat each being swingably attached only at one end thereof to said legs and each having the opposite end thereof free, means carried internally of said legs and connected with the said one end of each of said seat and base causing simultaneous collapse of both said base and seat upon the folding movement of either.

2. In a folding chair, a pair of hollow legs, a base, a seat, said base and seat each being swingably attached only at one end thereof to said legs and each having the opposite end thereof free, means carried internally of said legs and connected with the said one end of each of said seat and base causing simultaneous collapse of both said base and seat upon the folding movement of either, said means comprising mechanical llinkages interconnected between said seat and ase.

3. In a folding chair, a pair of hollow legs, a base, a seat, said baseand seat each being swingably attached only at one end thereof to said legs, and each having the opposite end thereof free, means carried internally of said legs and connected with the said one end Aof each of said seat and base causing simultaneous collapse of both said base and seat upon the folding movement of either and means for locking said base and seat in an open position.

4. In a folding chair comprising upright legs, seat, and base, means for causing simultaneous folding of said base and seat comprising shafts attached to said seat and base and rotatable therewith, ljournal means carried by said legs for lever arms carried by said shafts for rotating therewith, and means linking said arms so that motion of the shafts is simultaneous, said linking means being contained within said legs hidden from View.

5. In a folding chair comprising upright hollow legs, seat, and base, means for causing simultaneous folding of said base and seat comprising shafts attached to said seat and base and rotatable therewith, journal means carried by said legs for mounting said shafts rotatable relative thereto, lever arms carried by said shafts for rotating therewith, and means linking said arms so that motion of the shafts is simultaneous, said linking means being contained within said legs hidden from view, said legs having housing for said journal means and lever arms whereby same are also hidden from view.

6. In a folding chair construction, uprights, seat and base members pivoted on said uprights, pairs of journals carried by said uprightsl and mounting rotatable shafts therein, cantilever Support members xedly secured to said shafts and having said seat. and base each independently attached to a pair of said `iournals, lever arms attached to each of said shafts, and means linking pairs of said lever arms whereby pivotal motion of either the seat or base member will be duplicated by the other member.

7. A folding chair construction comprising pair of hollow upright leg members, each provided with a housing adjacent the bottom thereof and a second housing intermediate the ends thereon'a seat member and a base member, rotative means carried by the lower housings eX- tending through confronting walls thereof and connected to said base member, rotativ-e means carried by the upper housings and extending through confronting walls thereof and connected to said seat member, means for limiting downward rotation of said seat and base member whereby said chair may remain open and be collapsed by folding saidbase and seat members upwardly.

8. A folding chair construction comprising `a pair of hollow upright leg members, each provided with a housing adjacent the bottom thereof and a second housing intermediate the ends thereof, said leg members being provided with openings opposite said housings providing communication between said housings and the interior of said leg members, a seat member and a base member, rotative means carried by the lower housings extending through confronting walls thereof and connected to said base member,rotative means carried by the upper housings and extending through confronting, walls thereof and connected to said seat, means for limiting downward rotation of said seat and base member whereby said chair may remain open and be collapsed by folding said base and seat members upwardly, lever arms attached to said rotative means within said housings and extending through said openings into the hollow interior of said legs, said rotation limiting means including links interconnecting the upper and `lower of said levers whereby said base and seat will move simultaneously during swinging thereof.

9. A folding chair construction comprising a pair of hollow upright leg members, each provided with a housing adjacent the bottom thereof and a second housing intermediate the ends thereof, said leg members being provided with openings opposite said housings providing communication between said housings and the interi'or. ofLsaid leg members, a seat member and a base member, rotative means carried by the lower housings etxending through confronting walls thereof and connected to said' base member, rotative means carried by the upper housings and extending through confronting walls thereof and connected to said seat, means for limiting` downward rotation of said seat and base member whereby said chair may remain open and be collapsed. by folding said base and seat members upwardly, lever arms attached to said rotative means within saidl housings and extending through said openings into the hollow interior of said legs, said rotation limiting means including links interconnecting the upper and lower of said levers whereby said base and seat will move. simultaneously during swinging thereof and means locking said seat and base in an unfolded position.

10. A folding chair construction comprisingV a pair o1 hollow upright leg members, each provided with a housing adjacent the bottom thereof and a second housing intermediate the ends thereof, said leg members being provided with openings opposite said housings providing communication between said housings and the interior of said leg members, a seat member and a base member, rotative means carried by the lower housing extending through confronting walls thereof and connected to said base member; rotative means carried by the upper housings and extending through confronting walls thereof and connected t said seat, means for limiting downward rotation of said seat and base member whereby said chair may remain open and be collapsed by folding said base and seat members upwardly, lever arms attached to said rotative means within said housings and extending through said openings into the hollow interior of said legs, said rotation limiting means including links interconnecting the upper and lower of said levers whereby said base and seat will move simultaneously during, swinging there.- of., and, means locking said seat and base in an unfolded position comprising a member slidable within a leg of said chair. to wedge one oi said links in an immovable position, said member having manipulating means externally of said lee.

11. A folding chair construction including a chair back formed of a pair of hollow, tubular, upright legs, a swingable member supported in pivotal relationship on said legs with an edge adjacent the upright and the edge opposite free, said member being attached to swing from a position lying in a plane parallel to the'upright to a second, position lying in a plane substantially perpendicular to the plane of the upright, said swingable member including a lever attached theretoy at the pivoted end thereof extending into the interior of one of said hollow legs and having means at the end of said leyer adapted to engage the interior wall of saidl leg to, limity downward pivotal motion of said member. f

' WESLEY'R. GOLDFINE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the l'e of' this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,023,717 Bungton Apr. 16, 1912 1,297,059 Barnes Mar. 11, 1919 1,686,599- Corser et al. Oct. 9, 1928 1,728,573 Powers Sept. 17, 1929 2,127,442 Dowdy Aug. 16, 1938 2,128,912 Bufngton Sept. 6, 1938 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 288,373 Great Britain Apr. 10, 1928 286,807 Italy June 23, 1931 

